choose your battles….

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Break the Silence.”    There would have been a million times when I wish I had just said something. Anything, to wipe the smirk from the face.  Just this once I wish I had given a befitting riposte  , turned around with aplomb and walked out of the room leaving behind a dozen gaping mouths almost reaching the floor.

Believe you me, I am no fool or a doormat. I have my wits about me always so I have no shortage of replies just dancing on the tip of my tongue ready like a whiplash. But then I have realised that a sharp tongue is the only instrument that gets sharper with use. I have seen the hurt in the eyes of friends and family when the whiplash lands straight at the heart. Not every comment, said Knowingly or unknowingly requires a befitting reply. Sometimes it is just wiser to remain quite. Even when you know you are being wronged. It is never easy but situations subtly demand so. A lot depends upon balancing the good that may come out of it or the pain that it might cause.  The part of the world that I come from joint families are very common. More the number of people more the chances of discord. A  small comment or a statement can cause so much of pain. .It is so much easier to set the records straight then and there. You speak, I speak,you speak, I speak. Even in nuclear families this situation exists. A lot of fights between husband and wife is a direct result of this giving back syndrome. Please do not mistake me. I do not advocate keeping quite at all times. I am pretty much an  educated modern woman with a mind of my own….and I read in one of the quotes on Pintrest “AN EDUCATED WOMAN IS A DANGEROUS CREATURE”… but I have learnt to temper my mind for the larger good. Not all battles need to be fought…. Sometimes silence speaks more clearly than words.

Since early childhood my grand mother taught me that let others speak ill of you, if you do not  let those words permeate within you those words bounce of you and keep circulating in this universe like the million unwanted cosmic dust particles, but if you start reacting to every thing that is said  you yourself harm your peace. You try finding ways to get back at others and the vicious cycle continues.

So learn to choose your battles and fight them well but do not put down people just for the heck of it.